1. How many babies are born each year in Canada using in vitro fertilization?

In 2012, the most recent year for which statistics are available, a total of 27,356 cycles was reported at Canada's 32 IVF centres. These cycles resulted resulted in 5971 live births. (source: Canadian Assisted Reproductive Technologies Registry - CARTR)

In all provinces except Quebec IVF treatment is not covered by the provincial health plan. In August 2010, the Quebec government began funding up to three rounds of IVF treatment for couples, with the proviso that only one embryo be transferred at a time. The aim of this is to reduce the number of multiple births, which bring higher risk than "singletons". Early results from Quebec are promising, showing a decrease in twins from 27.2 per cent to 5.2 per cent in the first 6 months of government funding. Click here for a presentation on these results.

Infertility affects 10-15% of reproductive age couples, and the incidence increases rapidly in women after the age of 40.

6. What changed with the Supreme Court of Canada decision on Assisted Reproduction?

In 2007, the government of Quebec challenged Canada's Assisted Human Reproduction Act arguing that healthcare was a provincial matter. Among other things, the Supreme Court ruled that several key powers, including regulating fertility clinics, would now fall under provincial jurisdiction. A ban on the purchase of sperm, eggs, embryos and surrogacy remains.